Multisided magnetized removable furniture section

ABSTRACT

Storage furniture is provided that includes storage area(s) and removable section(s) for enclosing the storage area(s), wherein the removable section(s) include multiple sides, and wherein any one of the sides of a removable section may be made optionally apparent by the user when the removable section is placed in position to obscure a corresponding storage area. In one embodiment, metal areas are provided with the removable sections that are attracted via magnetization by magnet(s) provided substantially adjacent a corresponding storage area, so that any side of a removable section may outwardly face an observer when the removable section is covering an associated storage area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to furniture having at least one multisided section that is removable by way of a plurality of magnets, so that multiple sides of the section may be exposed to a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Furniture that also houses or covers up a variety of user items (e.g., blankets, pillows, magazines, books, storage media, gaming consoles, peripherals, etc.) has existed for a long time. Especially as computing devices and associated components proliferate everywhere, furniture with organized storage has become a practical necessity to avoid overall chaos and to maintain simplicity where such devices have proliferated. One particular kind of technology that has taken over living rooms, basements, conference rooms, etc. is the gaming console. From the time that gaming consoles appeared on the market in the 1970s, the gaming industry has evolved at light speed as a technology as a whole, and correspondingly the number of components that are associated with such gaming consoles have grown rapidly as well.

FIG. 1A, for instance, shows just a sample of the numerous varieties of multimedia consoles 100, multimedia storage 110 and multimedia peripherals 120 that exist today and that might appear in a single user's living room. For instance, a variety of multimedia consoles 100 might include any one or more of consoles C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, etc. (e.g., Sony's PlayStation, Microsoft's Xbox, Nintendo's GameCube), though the multimedia consoles 100 shown are not intended to be limiting. In addition, possession of a multimedia console 100 spawns the inclusion of multimedia storage 110 including storage cases S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, etc. required to render the content of particular games. Furthermore, ownership of a multimedia console 100 will tend to include a variety of multimedia peripherals 120 including, but not limited to, controllers P1, P2, P3 and P4 for direct interaction with the console, headset P5 for use in on-line play, or cameras P6 or P7 for use as an input device or camera chat functions. Additionally, other media devices such as CD players, DVD players, amplifiers, set top boxes and the like may also appear alongside or near such multimedia consoles 100. Accordingly, the need for storage for such items is clear.

In the past, chests with lids, storage benches, cubby holes, drawers, to name a few, have all been used to house one or more items out of view of a user. However, at the same time, generally speaking, the way that a user's things have been stored inside such furniture items has remained static in terms of functionality. In general, there have been two classes of functionality where it has been desirable to hide one or more of a user's things out of view: hinged doors and drawers.

For instance, with respect to hinged doors, as shown in FIG. 1B, typically, furniture items such as display stand F1 may include one or more doors, such as doors D1 and D2, each having a set of hinges h1, h2 and h3, h4, respectively, for allowing the door to swing closed (closed position on left side) and open (open position on the right side). When doors D1 and D2 are open, inside the display stand F1 is revealed storage space S1 and S2, respectively, for storing various items inside. Similarly, a storage chest might include a lid that includes one or more hinges so that the lid may swing between an open position allowing storage of items and retrieval of items from storage and a closed position covering the top of the chest. Since a lid of a chest may also rest by gravity, lids are also sometimes provided as separately removable components without hinges as well.

With respect to drawers, as shown in FIG. 1C, some furniture items, such as table F2, may include one or more drawers, such as drawers DR1 and DR2, which a user can slide out as shown by the arrow on the drawers in the open (bottom) view in order to access the items inside storage S3 and S4 of the drawers DR1 and DR2, respectively. Some items of furniture combine drawers and doors as well.

However, with both hinged doors and drawers, when the door or drawer is in the closed position, the same surface is always presented to the user. For instance with a door, when the door is swung closed, the front panel of the door is always apparent to an observer. Conversely, when the door is swung open, the inside panel of the door is always apparent to the observer. Similarly, with a drawer, whether the drawer is open or shut, the front panel of the drawer is always apparent to an observer. What is thus desired is a section of storage furniture that allows and prevents access to a storage area of the storage furniture, like a drawer or hinged door, but which also allows multiple flexible views of the section from the user's standpoint, even where the section is in the “storage area closed” position. Accordingly, for these and other reasons, improved furniture structures for enabling these and other objectives are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments, the invention provides storage furniture that includes one or more storage areas and one or more removable sections for enclosing the one or more storage areas, wherein the one or more removable sections include a plurality of sides, and wherein any one of the plurality of sides of a removable section may be made optionally apparent by the user when the removable section is placed in position to obscure a corresponding storage area. In one embodiment, a plurality of metal retention mechanisms are provided with the one or more removable sections that are magnetized by one or more magnets provided substantially adjacent a corresponding storage area, so that any side of a removable section may outwardly face an observer when the removable section is covering a corresponding storage area.

Additional features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The multisided magnetized removable furniture section(s) of the invention are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary variety of consoles, peripherals and storage showing exemplary need for storage furniture;

FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate exemplary prior art furniture structures for enclosing a storage area of a furniture item;

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate the interchangeability of a multi-sided section of a furniture item in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate exemplary retention of a multisided section of furniture in connection with a furniture item in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4F illustrate exemplary retention of a multisided section of furniture in connection with a furniture item via magnetization in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5F illustrate exemplary retention of a multisided section of furniture in connection with a furniture item via magnetization in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting implementation of the multisided furniture section retention enabled by the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Overview

As described in the background, traditional storage furniture has not allowed the flexibility to interchange sides of a multisided storage enclosure section of the storage furniture. As mentioned, hinged doors are either open (one side of the door shows) in a first position or shut (the other side of the door shows) in a second position, and drawers always display the same side to observers (the front of the drawer).

Accordingly, in various embodiments, the invention provides multisided removable furniture section(s) including first retention mechanisms for a furniture item that includes second retention mechanisms near a storage space opening. When any side of the multisided removable furniture section(s) is placed so that the first retention mechanisms engage the second retention mechanisms, the multisided removable furniture section(s) substantially cover the storage space opening irrespective of which side is faced outwards from the furniture item. In this fashion, multiple patterns can be outwardly displayed enabling a host of visual experiences and/or practical scenarios (e.g., games) for a user or observer of the furniture.

In one embodiment, the second retention mechanisms include any number of magnets, and the first retention mechanisms are provided as metal (e.g., steel or iron attracted to the magnets), or vice versa, although any mechanical means known to those of skill in the art of mechanical attachments could be used for a similar retention purpose.

In a non-limiting implementation, a lid of a cubical storage space includes metal that is attracted to magnets positioned substantially near the storage space so that either side of the lid may adhere to the magnets. In this fashion, the cubical storage space can be oriented in any direction, e.g., horizontally, without the lid falling off the storage space, and an observer can view either side of the lid. While lids typically are flat surfaces, any geometry with multiple sides is contemplated. For instance, 3-D polygons with three or more sides that can adhere to the retention mechanism of the storage space are contemplated. The retention structures of the present invention, e.g., metal portions and corresponding magnets, can be applied in any corresponding numbers, types of storage areas (i.e., irrespective of the shape of the storage area) and kinds of furniture items (towers, coffee tables, display stands, shelves, etc.).

Exemplary Non-Limiting Retention Structures for a Section of Furniture

In various non-limiting embodiments described herein, the invention enables a multisided section of furniture to join to a furniture item via any of the multi-sides of the section. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively, a section 210 of furniture has a first side 210A1 having a first pattern P1 and the section 210 of furniture has a second side 210A2 having a second pattern P2. Thus, as described in more detail below and shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, when the section 210 is applied to or positioned on a furniture item 200 in accordance with the invention, a user may, at his or her option, either outwardly display side 210A1 as shown in FIG. 2C or side 210A2 as shown in FIG. 2D.

In more detail, and as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the invention provides a one or retention zones for a section 211 of a furniture item wherein retention mechanisms, such as section retention mechanisms RRM1 and RRM2, are positioned on the section 211 on both sides 211A1 and 211A2. In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 3D, a furniture item 201 including a storage area 220 a to be covered by section 211 of FIGS. 3A and 3B also includes storage area retention mechanisms SARM1 and SARM2, which correspond spatially to the retention mechanisms RRM1 and RRM2 of section 211. Thus, when section 211 is brought into alignment contact with the storage area 220 a, as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F, either side 211A1 or side 211A2 may be outwardly displayed from the furniture item 201. In either case, the retention mechanisms engage operating to retain the section 211 on top of the storage area. While only diagonal lines are shown for side 211A1 and vertical lines shown for side 211A2, one of ordinary skill in the furniture arts can appreciate that any pattern can be applied for either functional and/or aesthetic purpose, and that the sides 211A1 and 211A2 may include different textures, different three-dimensional ornamentation, different carving, different colors, etc.

FIGS. 4A to 4F illustrate an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention wherein one or more metal surfaces, such as metal surfaces MS1 and MS2, can be incorporated into a section 212 having two different sides 212A1 and 212A2, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Correspondingly, magnets M1 and M2 are placed near the enclosure of a storage area 220 b of a furniture item 202 as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D. In this fashion, when magnets M1 and M2 come into contact with metal surfaces MS1 and MS2 of section 212, respectively, section 212 is retained in place by the magnetization, and as a result, either side 212A1 or side 212A2 of section 212 may be outwardly displayed to an observer of the enclosed storage area.

FIGS. 5A to 5F, in a similar fashion to FIGS. 4A to 4F, illustrate that any number of magnets (i.e., greater than 2 magnets) can be used to secure a multisided section of furniture to a furniture item. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in addition to metal surfaces MS1 and MS2, metal surfaces MS3 and MS4 are added to a section 213 to provide additional retention support. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, additional magnets M3 and M4 are positioned on a furniture item 203 which exposes storage area 220 c. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F, the additional metal surfaces MS3 and MS4 are shown to engage with magnets M3 and M4, or M4 and M3, respectively depending on the orientation of section 213 and which side 213A1 or 213A2 is outwardly displayed. For similar reasons, due to symmetry, magnet M1 can mate with metal surface MS2 and magnet M2 can mate with metal surface MS1 (shown the other way around in FIGS. 5E and 5F).

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary, non-limiting implementation of a furniture item in accordance with the invention, wherein the furniture items are capable of being stacked, or otherwise interconnected. For instance, as shown, nine substantially cubicle storage elements are shown in a 3×3 stacked array. In this implementation, for aesthetic arrangement, the cubical storage elements, such as cubical storage element CSE1, each have a storage area enclosure section such as cubical storage element lid CSEL1, for enclosing a storage area housed by each cubical storage element. As illustrated, each storage element lid has a first side, which is a first color (green) and a second side which is a second color (silver). Where a lid is present in FIG. 6, thereby covering the corresponding storage area underneath, it is indicated whether the side of the lid that is silver is outwardly displayed (silver side SS) or the side of the lid that is green is outwardly displayed (green side GS). As shown in the storage areas without lids, magnetized elements ME are placed so that the lids, such as cubical storage element lid CSEL1, when positioned to cover the storage area, are retained by way of magnetization to corresponding metal found in the cubical storage element lids.

In addition, one or more holes, handles, indented portions, etc. HO may be provided on the lids, such as lid CSEL1, in order to enable a user to engage and disengage the lid without pinching the user's fingers at the edge. The storage furniture of the invention thus includes a removable multi-sided section having ways to grip or grab the removable multi-sided section so that a user can counteract a retention force maintained by the at least one first and second retention mechanisms. While the implementation of FIG. 6 simply shows a two-colored lid, any two patterns and any two geometries whether flat or surfaced in some fashion may be considered to apply to a lid in accordance with the invention. In addition, as mentioned, any multisided geometry, i.e., greater than two sides, is contemplated in accordance with the invention.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various Figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention as described in the present application may apply to any storage furniture including a storage area that is covered by a hinged door, drawer, or single sided removable panel. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims. 

1. Storage furniture, including: a housing that houses a storage area including storage space for storing one or more items, wherein the housing includes an opening enabling the storage space to be accessible externally to the housing; at least one first retention mechanism positioned substantially near the opening; and a removable multi-sided section, with at least two sides of the removable multi-sided section each including at least one second retention mechanism for engaging with corresponding ones of the at least one first retention mechanism, whereby when the at least one second retention mechanism of a side of the at least two sides engages with the at least one first retention mechanism, the storage space is covered, and the removable multi-sided section is removable by the user by disengaging the at least one second retention mechanism from the at least one first retention mechanism.
 2. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the at least one first retention mechanism is at least one magnet.
 3. The storage furniture of claim 2, wherein the at least one second retention mechanism of each side of the at least two sides is composed of at least one of iron and steel, and the at least one second retention mechanism engages with the at least one magnet to magnetically retain the removable multi-sided section to cover the opening.
 4. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the removable multi-sided section includes means for grabbing the removable multi-sided section so that a user can counteract a retention force maintained by the at least one first and second retention mechanisms.
 5. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the removable multi-sided section is composed at least partially of at least one of iron and steel.
 6. The storage furniture of claim 5, wherein the removable multi-sided section is composed entirely of at least one of iron and steel.
 7. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the at least two sides of the removable multi-sided section is two sides.
 8. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein each side of the at least two sides of the removable multi-sided section includes a different pattern.
 9. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein each side of the at least two sides of the removable multi-sided section includes a different color.
 10. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein each side of the at least two sides of the removable multi-sided section includes a different texture.
 11. The storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the housing is stackable by other housing of the same type of housing as the storage furniture.
 12. Cubical storage furniture, including: a housing that houses a storage area accessible via an opening of the housing, wherein the housing includes first retention means; and a removable lid having two sides and second retention means, wherein either of the two sides covers the opening when either one is aligned so that the second retention means operably engages with the first retention means, and whereby the other side not covering the opening is outwardly displayed.
 13. The cubical storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the first retention means includes at least one magnet.
 14. The cubical storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the removable multi-sided section is composed at least partially of at least one of iron and steel.
 15. The cubical storage furniture of claim 1, wherein each side of the at least two sides of the removable multi-sided section includes a different pattern.
 16. The cubical storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the removable multi-sided section includes means for grabbing the removable multi-sided section so that a user can counteract a retention force maintained by the at least one first and second retention mechanisms.
 17. The cubical storage furniture of claim 1, wherein the housing of the cubical storage furniture of the same type is stackable with the housing of other cubical storage furniture of the same type.
 18. Storage furniture, including: a housing that houses a storage area including a plurality of magnets; and a removable multi-sided cover, with at least part of at least two sides of the removable multi-sided cover each comprising at least one of an iron portion and a steel portion, wherein when the at least one of an iron portion and a steel portion of any of the at least two sides comes into contact with the plurality of magnets, the removable multi-sided cover is retained by magnetism to cover the storage area.
 19. The storage furniture of claim 18, wherein at least an outer layer of the removable multi-sided cover is composed substantially of at least one of iron and steel.
 20. The storage furniture of claim 18, wherein the plurality of magnets are positioned substantially near an opening of the storage area. 